Boulton heads a winner for Tidza

Tideswell United welcomed Royal Mail to Pursglove on a freezing afternoon in the Valley.

The pitch was in a playable condition, which was a credit to the United groundstaff who worked tirelessly to get the game on.

It didn’t take the Sawyeds long to stamp their authority on proceedings, as within the first two minutes Paul Egerton put United in front as he was allowed to travel unchallenged into the Mail penalty area before coolly stroking past the wrong-footed goalkeeper.

Within ten minutes Egerton added his second after a poor back-pass saw the hitman beat the keeper to the ball and, from the tightest of angles, fire home.

The home side thought the game would be a romp after the good start, but Mail had different ideas as they started to look dangerous on the break.

Ten minutes before the interval, the visitors were awarded a penalty kick and a way back into the game after Mark Bradbury sent the forward sprawling.

Paul Cliff was equal to the spot kick and kept it out, but United failed to react and the Mail forward headed home from six yards.

United looked shell-shocked as the half time whistle came just at the right time.

The first 20 minutes of the second period were end to end as both sides looked to take advantage of the difficult surface.

United struck with an hour gone as Boulton fed Mark Barton, who rifled his shot into the far corner giving the excellent keeper no chance.

United again switched off and two defensive mistakes saw the visitors back on level terms with 12 minutes to play.

The home side still created the better opportunities as Jones, Bradbury and Egerton all had chances to secure the points, and Boulton forced two top-drawer saves out of the visiting custodian.

As the final four minutes arrived, United’s pressure finally paid off as good work from Egerton found Pat Jones on the touchline. Jones delivered the ball deep into the Mail penalty area and, right on cue, Paul Boulton arrived to head home and seal the points.